Genius Grandson of the Loan Shark King

I wish I had a dream too

[The Wall Street Journal also ended up in Murdoch's hands.

Media tycoon Rufus Murdoch finally acquires the Wall Street Journal.

······Meanwhile, some are raising concerns that Murdoch is trampling on editorial independence.

According to the New York Times, the elders of the Bancroft family, who had led the Wall Street Journal for over 100 years, reportedly opposed the sale, saying, "It could damage the reputation of the Wall Street Journal." However, the sale was made due to the strong insistence of the younger members. An official criticized, "The Wall Street Journal has surrendered to money."] [Rufus Murdoch, Dreams Come True.

Rufus Murdoch has finally acquired the Wall Street Journal, a business newspaper he had long coveted.

The Bancroft family, the majority shareholder of parent company Dow Johnson, has agreed to sell Dow Johnson after months of negotiations.

There is talk that Murdoch's status will change through the acquisition of Dow Johnson.

Murdoch owns more than 100 large and small newspapers around the world, but he is evaluated as lacking political, economic and social influence because he does not own any authoritative publications.

By acquiring the Wall Street Journal, Murdoch and his family have become one of the leading families in the American media business, following the Sulzbergers, who own the New York Times, and the Grahams, who own the Washington Post.

Every media outlet in America covered Murdoch's acquisition of the Wall Street Journal.

Most of the articles were critical of Murdoch's acquisition of the Wall Street Journal.

But whether the American media said so or not, we celebrated our victory and had a party.

"Hahahahaha."

Murdoch continued to laugh loudly like a drunk.

"Me, me! I finally have the Wall Street Journal in my hands! My dream has come true."

"Congratulations."

Han Kyung-young and I congratulated Murdoch several times.

"I finally achieved what I've been dreaming of for over 20 years. It's all thanks to you two."

Murdoch, who was still very drunk, continued to drink and chatter.

"No one can ignore this Murdoch anymore."

Seeing Murdoch, who is over 70 years old, still talking about his dreams, made me realize that age is just a number.

"I wanted to be like Henry Luce, someone who would have influence even after death. Do you know him, Charlie?"

I nodded and held out my glass.

"Of course. How could I not know? Wasn't he the founder of Time magazine?"

I knew Henry Luce too.

"Yes. Time was just the beginning. He also founded Fortune and Life. At first, everyone laughed at him. But he eventually did it. He created not one, but three of the most influential magazines in the world."

Murdoch clinked his glass with mine and poured the drink into his mouth.

"I wanted to be like that person."

"There will come a day when Chairman Murdoch will be recognized more than that."

"Haha. Even if it's just empty words, it's nice to hear."

Murdoch refilled his empty glass.

"People say that News Corporation, Time Warner, and Walt Disney, which I own, are the three major media conglomerates."

I nodded.

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"I see a place higher than them. A media kingdom so unrivaled that no one can surpass it even if I die."

Murdoch is now in his twilight years.

"I wish I had met Charlie sooner..."

Murdoch was regretting that he had not met me until he was older.

"It's not too late."

"I am now over seventy years old. I am at an age where it would not be strange if I died at any time."

Murdoch's eyes lit up.

"I intend to see it through to the end."

"I support Murdoch's dream."

"I support you too, Chairman Murdoch."

My glasses, Han Kyung-young's, and Murdoch's glasses clashed in the air.

"I guess I should go in now."

Soon, Murdoch finished his last glass and stood up.

"I have an interview tomorrow and a lot of work to do. So look forward to it. I will do everything I can to shake up China."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

After Murdoch, who had been laughing heartily, disappeared, Han Kyung-young and I continued drinking together.

Han Kyung-young muttered as he looked at the door through which Murdoch had disappeared.

"Will I be able to dream when I'm Murdoch's age? When I look at Murdoch, I sometimes think that way. It's not easy for someone who already has enough money to work hard for their dreams their whole life. Am I just being complacent?"

"Even if you want to retire, you can't. I won't allow it."

"What? Why are you doing this to me?"

"Don't even think about retiring before me. I'll make you work until you die."

"Ugh······. I wasn't supposed to meet you."

"I went to see my brother, what are you talking about?"

Han Kyung-young and I had a drink together, reminiscing about when we first met.

"I still laugh when I think about how I ran away thinking you were a debt collector."

Han Kyung-young shook his head with a big smile. If he keeps doing that, he'll drop his glass.

"Who would have thought that I, who was hiding in a hotel room, would become this successful?"

"I knew it."

Then Han Kyung-young straightened his back and asked.

"While we're on the subject, let me ask. How on earth did you know about me and come to see me? I was really nothing back then, so what do you know about me?"

"Well, to be honest······ it wouldn't have mattered even if it wasn't my brother, right?"

"what?"

Han Kyung-young looked at me as if I found it absurd.

I laughed, but I took the joke out of it and spoke seriously.

"How could I have known that my brother had such an ability and gone looking for him? If you looked for someone like my brother back then, there would have been many. However, it was rare to find someone trustworthy among them."

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"That was the first time you met me. What are you talking about? How can you trust me? Huh······."

Han Kyung-young was also drunk and emotional.

"I knew with my own eyes whether he was trustworthy or not. You know my instincts."

"Ha, it's not like I saw the future or anything. Where on earth does that confidence come from?"

Han Kyung-young shook his head again. He was very drunk and his body was staggering.

"Do you know that because of you, I really feel like I'm going crazy every time? I don't have any life left."

"Isn't it time for you to adapt? You've grown a lot since you used to be."

"If this really can't speak······."

Han Kyung-young fell to the table, unable to continue speaking.

I raised my hand and called Director Ma.

"Ask them to send it up to my hotel room. I'll drink some more before I go up."

"Yes, boss."

The subordinate who received the call helped Han Kyung-young up, and Director Ma stood behind me without saying a word.

"Mr. Director, would you like a drink too?"

"No, it's okay."

I laughed at Chief Ma's unchanging behavior and poured my glass.

"I wish I could have a dream too."

I came running just for revenge, and after I finished getting revenge, to have the strength to protect my people.

Wouldn't it be okay to dream for me now?

It was a night that made me think a lot about Murdoch's figure running towards his dream without stopping.

* * *

The New York Times, a rival of the Wall Street Journal, has been publishing critical editorials every day about Murdoch's acquisition of the Wall Street Journal.

While pretending to criticize Murdoch, he did not hesitate to subtly criticize the fairness of the Wall Street Journal.

That wasn't all. Across the ocean, the Financial Times in Britain also criticized Murdoch's editorial intervention, saying it would ruin the fairness and accuracy of the Wall Street Journal.

The reports from both media outlets appeared to advocate freedom of the press, but most reporters did not take it that way.

"We can't stay like this either."

Reporters from the Wall Street Journal flocked to the editor's office to protest.

"While we opposed Murdoch's takeover, we cannot tolerate any tarnishing of the Wall Street Journal's name."

The editor-in-chief frowned and sighed as he watched the reporters rushing into the office.

"I think so too. So what should I do?"

"We must fight back too."

"Hey, man. So you're saying we should criticize Murdoch in the same way? Are you saying we should take care of our own fortunes with our own hands?"

The editor felt a headache coming on and held his head with one hand.

"How about expressing our reporters' thoughts through cartoons?"

"I've already prepared a publisher's letter. It would be crossing the line for reporters to come forward."

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"Editor-in-Chief, this is the newspaper we created. Journalists also have the freedom to express their thoughts."

"under······."

The reporters who had gathered were not intimidated even in front of the editor.

"Please give me just one tip."

"Do you really have to do that? Even though it's called a takeover, you drew the line that there would be absolutely no restructuring."

The editor-in-chief also didn't like Murdoch.

But while rivals like The New York Times and The Washington Post, as well as most other newspapers, are restructuring, Murdoch has promised job security to both editors and reporters.

"More important than our livelihood is the fairness of the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Editor, please."

Dozens of reporters bowed their heads simultaneously.

"Ah······ Do whatever you want. I'll give you a spot in the opinion column. But Murdoch's name can't be mentioned."

The reporters' faces brightened.

"Don't worry. Who are we? We can write well enough without mentioning our names."

"I'll tell the publisher. Now everyone get back to your seats and get to work!"

"Yes! Editor-in-chief!"

The reporters playfully saluted the editor and left the editor's office.

"This guy or that guy."

The editor laughed in disbelief and then picked up the phone.

"Yes. I will go up now. I think I need to convey the reporters' request."

As an editor, I had to convey the reporters' demands to the publisher.

After checking his attire, he went to the office where the publisher was staying.

At that time, 70 Dow Johnson union members, led by reporters from the Wall Street Journal, were holding picket signs and protesting in front of the main entrance to the Dow Johnson building.

"Rufus is rich! He bought the paper with his money! And he's going to throw it in the gutter! But who's holding the pen? He's like a kangaroo, and he's going to have to worry about getting pricked by the pen tip!"

Songs mocking Rufus Murdoch were heard all day long.

Murdoch's acquisition of Dow Johnson was thus calling for change in the American media.

* * *

I headed to the appointed place to meet Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame.

The two people had already arrived and were waiting for me. The meeting place was a restaurant that had been rented for the day.

After exchanging greetings, we continued our conversation in earnest over a meal.

"Do you know who I am?"

It was a sudden question, but Flame answered right away.

"Kim Mu-hyeok, a Korean citizen······."

He recited my personal details without stopping.

He was a secret agent for the CIA, so he seemed to know a lot.

"It seems like you know each other well, so it will be easy to talk."

"I know who it is, but I don't know why they asked me to meet them."

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"I wanted to meet you two to help you."

Flame smiled as if he found it amusing.

"You're helping us? Why? What good does that do for you?"

"Don't they say the enemy of my enemy is my friend?"

At that moment, it was Wilson, not Flame, who opened his mouth.

"Unlike this guy, I don't know much about you. I'd like to hear more about what you're talking about."

"I intend to shake up the New York Times and destroy its credibility."

"······Do you think that's possible?"

"That would be impossible."

I don't think the New York Times will collapse just like that.

"But I can make a dent in it. I can definitely do it if you two help me."

< I wish I had a dream too > End

< I am not a mature gentleman >